Method of slitting and jacketing cylindrical bodies

ABSTRACT

Tubes are contacted by belts on the upper portion of their outer surface to advance the tubes along a path paralleling their longitudinal axes with the lower well being slit and a guide subsequently being engaged to position the tube with its slot paralleling an edge of a sheet of jacketing material advanced toward the tube and positioned adjacent thereto whereby belts acting normal to the path of the tubes contact the upper portion of their outer surface to roll the tubes about their longitudinal axes to engage the sheet jacketing material wrapping it about the tube being rolled thereover.

United States Patent 1 Terry METHOD OF SLITTING AND JACKETINGCYLINDRICAL BODIES {75] Inventor: Rupert Douglas Terry, Toledo, Ohio[73] Assignee: Johns-Manville Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 26, 1971 {21] Appl. No.: 137,356

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,121,253 2/1964 Varrial156/455 X WORK FLOW [451 Aug. 28, 1973 LaBino 156/187 X Tulien 138/149 X[57] ABSTRACT Tubes are contacted by belts on the upper portion of theirouter surface to advance the tubes along a path paralleling theirlongitudinal axes with the lower well being slit and a guidesubsequently being engaged to position the tube with its slotparalleling an edge of a sheet of jacketing material advanced toward thetube and positioned adjacent thereto whereby belts acting normal to thepath of the tubes contact the upper portion of their outer surface toroll the tubes about their longitudinal axes to engage the sheetjacketing material wrapping it about the tube being rolled thereover.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,755,039

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 3

WORK FLOW I4 WORK FLOW I L I II INVENTOR. RUPERT DOUGLAS TERRY ATTORNEYPatented Au 28, 1973 3,755,039

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I24 I34 I38 1 o f v fl FIG. 4

WORK FLOW INVENTOR. RUPERT DOUGLAS TERRY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 19734 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 8

INVENTOR.

RUPERT DOUGLAS TERRY ATTORNEY Patented 28, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. RUPERT DOUGLAS TERRY ATTORNEY METHOD OF SLITTING AND JACKETINGCYLINDRICAL BODIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I-Ieretofore jacketinghas been applied to tubes of fibrous, thermal insulation by manuallywrapping the tubes with jacketing having adhesive on the surface thereofadjacent the tube when the tube was previously slit along its length.

One product resulting from the practice of the method and operationofthe apparatus of this invention is the subject of U.S. Pat. applicationSer. No. 003,638 filed Jan. 19, 1970, now abandoned for Self- SealSystem for the Installation of Insulation by John Paul Mikulak which wasfiled prior to this application.

A method and apparatus for wrapping jacketing about unslit tubes ofinsulation and subsequently slitting the wrapped tubes is the subject ofU.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 003,598 filed Jan. 19, 1970, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,695,965 for Method and Apparatus for Feeding and WrappingSheet Material" which was also filed prior to this application.

With a previously slit tube, the jacketing material had to be manuallyaligned with one edge of the material adjacent and parallel to the slitprior to wrapping the jacket to properly align the jacket to the tube.Subsequently, the tube was rolled across the sheet so that the tackyadhesive on the surface of the jacketing material caused the jacketingmaterial to be picked up and bonded to the tube. Manual operations ofthis nature are slower than the time required for manufacture of smallerdiameter tubes which can be manufactured at rates approaching one every4 to 5 seconds. As a result, the production of wrapped tubes is sloweddown by a time consuming manual operation and can only be achieved by anincrease in the amount of manual labor with accompanying high laborcosts and additional working area.

The present invention involves a method of and apparatus forautomatically slitting and jacketing cylindrical bodies at a rateapproximately the production rate of the cylindrical bodies with aresultant reduction in labor, inhancement of material flow in a plant,an increase in production speed and a reduction in production cost aswell as the required production area required. 1

Sheets of jacketing material cut to suitable length for encompassingcylindrical bodies and the cylindrical bodies are indexed by indexingmeans at a first station to align an edge of the sheet jacketingmaterial with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bodies. Meanswhich can be in the form of dormant adhesive on the surface of the sheetjacketing material and a spray for activating the adhesive cause aportion of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical bodies toadhesively contact the edge of the sheet jacketing material. With thecylindrical bodies having been slit and circumferentially oriented inadvancing to the first station, the cylindrical bodies are in properalignment to be rotated about their longitudinal axes to wrap thejacketing material about the outer peripheral surface of thecylindrical. Appara tus is provided to advance the sheets linearly fromthe stack to a station in which the tacky surface is prepared and in oneembodiment to confine the region which is tacky to less than thatrequired to encompass the entire outer surface of the cylindricalbodies. Also, apparatus is provided to advance the cylindrical bodylinearly from a supply source to a station where it is slit, all thewhile maintaining the circumferential orientation of the body as it isadvanced to alignment with the sheet material by use of guide meanswhich in one embodiment is a combination of a fixed and retractable edgeguide.

In one embodiment of the invention particularly applicable to pipeinsulation, the body and sheet material consist of a jacketed tubehaving a region of jacketing which is not adhered to the tube to exposea slot in the tube wall. The exposed slot affords a means of slippingthe jacketed tube over a pipe for insulation purposes. A flap or tab ofjacketing material having no tacky surface extends loosely over the slotto provide a seal once the tube is placed over a pipe by activation ofthe adhesive on the tab at that time.

The above apparatus provides an automatic wrapping and slitting ofcylindrical bodies with sheet material aligned with the slot in the bodyand, if desired, an extending tab which may later be used to seal overthe slot. The method developed for use with the machines has resulted inan increase in production over previous manual operations. The apparatushas eliminated the need for a manual operation with the resultingsavings in labor and work area required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary elevationalview of a portion of a manufacturing line including apparatus embodyingthe features of the invention for automatically wrapping jacketingmaterial on slit tubes;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a continuation of themanufacturing line illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 takenalong line 55 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a right hand view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 takenalong line 7--7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG.. 1 takenalong line 8-8 thereof; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line 99 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present apparatus and methodinvolves slitting and wrapping a cylindrical body with a sheet ofjacketing material adhered to a portion or the entire outer surface ofthe body without an adhered portion of the jacketing covering over theslot in the body. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical body isformed of a tubular mass of thermally insulating material to adapt itfor pipe insulation. The jacketing is formed of a sheet material whichcan function as a vapor barrier for pipe insulation although flexiblesheet material having differing physical and chemical characteristicsmay be applied by the techniques and apparatus to be described.

Typically the cylinder to be jacketed is formed of a fibrous insulatingmaterial which most commonly is formed of glass fibers produced bypassing molten glass through small orifices in pots containing themolten glass to produce a plurality of glass filaments. The filamentsare subjected to hot gaseous blasts which soften and attenuate them intosmall lengths of individual fine fibers. The fibers are collected on amoving formation conveyor and a binder, typically a thermosetting resin,is introduced into the mat. The mat can be formed into cylinders bybeing cut into lengths corresponding to the length of the total numberof convolutions to be employed in the cylinder and then wrapped aroundand compressed upon a mandrel to form the cylinder having the desiredinner and outer diameter and density.

Alternatives to the above glass fibers, formed as described, can beemployed for thermally insulating tubes. These include other materialswhich can be fiberized as by spinning, drawing, attenuating and blowinginto fine diameter fiber. Such material as silicates of metal oxides,such as rock wools from argillaceous matter or shale, slag wool frommetallurgical slags, the commonly known mineral wools, aluminum silicatefibers and any fibers of the so-called glasses can be formed intosuitable cylinders.

' The jacketing of flexible sheet material can be of various forms,depending upon its intended function. In the example of thermalinsulation jacketing a composite sheet of an outer layer of paper, anintermediate reinforcing web of glass fibers, and an inner layer ofaluminum foil is employed. The jacketing is coated on the metal foilinner face with an adhesive, advantageously of the phenolic neoprenetype having the characteristics that it is inexpensive, can be appliedin controlled quantities, is dormant or not tacky, is flexible, isnonflammable and is readily activated. A typical activator for theadhesive is a suitable solvent such as trichloroethane or methylchloroform.

Jacketing sheets can be prepared from rolls of material, precoated withadhesive conditioned to a nontacky state, by cutting sheets of jacketingof a length exceeding the circumferential length of a cross section ofthe tube to be jacketed by an amount providing an adequate sealing taband a width substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of thetube. Such sheets can be employed individually slthough automatedjacketing is facilitated if they are collected in stacks.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate one embodimentof the invention in the form of a manufacturing line wherein the majorcomponents consist of an inclined ramp 12 .for periodically feedingtubes 14 into a trough 16 where a forwarding wheel 18 advances the tubesone at a time to a slitter station 20. In passing through the slitterstation 20, the tubes are cut through the lower wall and partially onthe inside of the upper wall. A guide 53, illustrated in FIG. 9, in atransfer station 22 (see FIG. 1) maintains the orientation of the tube14 as travel continues on into a wrapping station 24. A retractableguide 182 (illustrated in FIG. 8) within the wrapping station 24maintains the orientation of the tube 14 until the tube 14 is engaged bya swingable belt conveyor 26 capable of being lowered upon the tube 14.At the same time, the retractable guide 182 is caused to be lowereddownwardly away from the tube 14 to enable rolling of the tube 14 tooccur when the conveyor 26 contacts the outer peripheral surface of thetube 14.

Simultaneous with the advance of the tube 14 to the wrapping station 24is the movement of the jacketing 28, made of sheet material, from astacking station 30 in a direction opposite to that of the movement ofthe tubes 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). Individual sheets of jacketing 28 areadvanced and the adhesive on the upper face is activated at apickup-spray station 32. The jacketing 28 is advanced to a jacketingconveyor 34 which spans both the wrapping station 24 and the pickupspraystation 32. The jacketing conveyor 34 carries the individual sheets ofjacketing 28 through a dwell portion between the wrapping andpickup-spray stations 24 and 32 and on into the wrapping station 24. Thedwell portion gives the previously sprayed activator on the sheet timeto activate the adhesive which as a result becomes tacky. Upon enteringthe wrapping station 24, one edge of the sheet of jacketing 28 isaligned adjacent and parallel to the slot formed in the tube 14, andopposing edges of the sheet align with respective ends of the tube 14.When the tube 14 is rolled over the sheet of jacketing 28, as describedabove, the tacky surface causes the jacketing 28 to wrap around the tube14 in alignment with the slot in the tube 14 and the ends thereof.

From the above overall description of the line, it is apparent that workflow to the line originates at both ends thereof and moves toward thewrapping station 24 which discharges work by a motion transverse to thatof the line. In describing the above line, it will be advantageous todescribe the components associated with each of the three work flowsseparate from the rest of the line.

First, consider the work flow with respect to the tubes 14 whichinvolves the components of the inclined ramp l2, trough l6, forwardingwheel 18, slitter station 20 and transfer station 22. These componentsare illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The inclined ramp 12 is additionallyillustrated in FIG. and consists basically of a pair of structuralangles 36 suitably framed with structural steel base 42. It will benoted that the base 42 extends over the entire line to support all thecomponents as well as the inclined ramp 12. The inner legs of the angles36 opposeeach other while the other legs form side guides for the tubes14 resting between them on the inner legs. The ramp 12 is inclined tothe horizontal to encourage the tubes 14 thereon to roll toward a feederbar 38. Fingers 40 on the feeder bar 38 located near the extremities ofthe length of the bar 38 are spaced radially at 90 intervals around thebar 38. Each time the bar 38 is rotated 90, a finger 40 at each end ofthe bar 38 engages the tube 14 adjacent it and flips it over the bar 38into the trough 16. Energization of the feeder bar 38 is accomplished byan air cylinder 41 connected to a rack and pinion box combination 43.The bar 38 is pivotally mounted in pillow block bearings 45 on the base42. To guide the tubes 14 into the trough 16, a retainer bar 39 isprovided which extends over the inclined ramp 12.

Clearly, other means of supplying the line could be employed such asmeans for vertically stacking the tubes 14 above the trough 16 forrelease one by one.

In like sense, the inclined ramp 12 could be hydraulically actuated withrespect to the feeder bar 38 and the bar 38 itself could be replacedalso, for example, by an orifice and gate.

Located adjacent the inclined ramp 12, the trough 16 is of V" shape toreceive the tubes 14 fed from the ramp 12. Support for the trough 16 isachieved by a structural tie to the inclined ramp 12. In between thetrough 16 and the slitter station 20, a forwarding wheel 18 is rotatablymounted and continuously driven by a motor-reducer 44 through a chainand sprocket set 46. A similar V" shaped open trough 48 extends from theslitter station 20 toward the forwarding wheel 18 and is aligned withthe trough 16 being, in effect, a continuation of trough 16. The opentrough 48, unlike trough 16, does not have an apex at the bottom so thatthe tubes 14 therein are exposed for slitting purposes. The overhang ofthe open trough 48 and trough 16 span the face of the inclined ramp 12to give support over the full length of each tube 14 deposited into thetroughs 16 and 48. With the forwarding wheel 18 located intermediate ofthe two troughs 16 and 48, a vertical height alignment of the upperperiphery of the forwarding wheel 18 slightly above the rest position ofthe bottom of a tube 14 within the troughs 16 and 48 allows the tube 14to be driven by the forwarding wheel 18. When a tube 14 is released fromthe inclined ramp 12 into the troughs 14 and 48, it is immediatelyadvanced by the continuously running forwarding wheel 18 to the entryend of the slitter station 20. If the slitter station 20 is not in acondition to accept a tube 14, the tube 14 will be stopped at the entryto the slitter station 20 and the forwarding wheel 18, which continuesto run, is allowed to slip beneath the tube 14 thereby maintaining thetube 14 against the entry of the slitter.

Apparatus in the form of troughs 16 and 48 plus a forwarding wheel 18have been described as illustrated in the drawings of the preferredembodiment but other means could be used to advance the tubes releasedfrom the inclined ramp 12 to the entry of the slitter station 20. Oneexample of an alternative is a driven set of rollers in place of thetroughs 16 and 48 and wheel 18.

Basic components of the slitter station 20 are the open trough 48 whichcontinues over the length of the station 20, the slitter saw 50, thepressure belt 52 and fixed guide 53. The saw 50 includes a continuouslyrotating circular blade 54, which may or may not have teeth, and ofsufficient diameter to pass through the bottom wall of a tube 14 and aportion of the inner wall of the tube diametrically opposed to the slit.The blade 54 is positioned between the opening in the open trough 48 toengage tubes 14 passing thereover. A suitable bearing mounting 56 forthe blade 54 is attached to the base 42 and a motor 54 is used to driveit through a belt and sheave combination 60. To positively orient andadvance a tube 14 through the slitter station 20 a pressure belt 52 isdriven counter clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. Engagement of the tube 14and belt 52 occur at the top surface of the tube 14. A high coefficientof friction of the belt surface contacting the tube 14 prevents slippagebetween the tube 14 and the belt 52. Further, the clearance between thebelt 52 and open trough 48 is slightly less than that required by theCD. of the tube 14 so that engagement between the belt 52 and tube 14causes compression of the tube 14, within its elastic limits, therebypressing the tube 14 against the belt 52 for firm contact. Movement ofthe belt 52 and, therefore, advancement of the tube 14 is caused byrotation of drive pulleys 62 and 64 and an associated idler pulley 66over which the belt 52 passes in forming a continuous loop. Mounted onthe base 42 is a motorreducer 68 for driving the drive pulley 62 througha chain and sprocket combination 70. On the rotatable shaft 72supporting the drive pulley 62 a magnetic clutch 74 is mounted forselectively engaging and disengaging the pulley 62 from the continuouslyrunning motor-reducer 68 to stop and start the pressure belt 52. Drivepulley 64 is driven by the interconnecting chain and sprocket loop 76.Adjustment of tension on the pressure belt can be accomplished by eitheradjusting the idler pulley 66 within its takeup block 78 or by tensionpulley 80 or both. A tension sprocket 82 is placed on chain loop 76 tomaintain tension on the loop 76. To guide the tubes 14 and retain theirproper circumferential orientation through the slitter station 20, aguide 53, illustrated in FIG. 9, in the form of a strip of metalcentered with a longitudinal edge pointing upward within the opening ofthe open trough 48 extends up into the trough 48 downstream of theslitter saw 50 to engage the tubes 14 by entering the slot formedtherein by the saw 50.

The guide 53 within open trough 48 continues over the length of thetransfer station 22 as does the trough 48. Support for both trough 48and guide 53 as well as the transfer belt 84, is provided by the base42. The transfer belt 84 duplicates the pressure belt 52 in operationand serves as a feed mechanism for the wrapping station 24. Since thetransfer belt 84 has a smaller loop than the pressure belt 52, thesupporting components are less elaborate having simply one drive pulley86 and two idler pulleys 88 and 90. The drive pulley 86 is connected tomotor-reducer 92. Both the transfer belt 84 and pressure belt 52 arecycled together to start and stop at the same time thereby providing asmooth ad vance of the tubes 14 through each station 20 and 22. The firmcontact between the tubes 14 and transfer belt 84 along with the guide53 in trough 48 combine to deliver the tubes 14 in proper alignment tothe wrapping station 24.

Attention will now be turned to those components for the transfer ofjacketing 28 to the wrapping station 24, namely, the stacking station30, pickup-spray station 32 and jacketing conveyor 34 illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4.

The jacketing 28, in the form of sheet material precut to size andhaving non-tacky adhesive on one major surface thereof, is stacked withthe adhesive facing upward on the stacking station 30. A flat metalplate 94 having fixedly attached side guards 96 is pivotally connected,as at 98, to the base 42 to form a swingable stacking station 30 asillustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. An air cylinder 100 is pivotallyconnected to the base 42 beneath plate 94 and to the plate 94 by acylinder rod clevis 102. Energization of the cylinder 100 raises the endof the stack of jacketing 28 adjacent the jacketing conveyor 34 toenable the vacuum cups 104 of the pickup-spray station 32 to engage thetop sheet of jacketing 28 on the stack.-

To enable the vacuum cups 104 of the pickup-spray station 32 to advancethe top sheet of jacketing 28 onto the jacketing conveyor 34, both thecups 104, illustrated in FIG. 2, and the non-flexible vacuum tubes 106are attached to an air cylinder 108 through a mounting 110 pivotallyattached to plates 111 on a structural bridge 112 including spaced apartvertically extending columns 114 and an interconnecting angle 116 whichin turn are supported by the base 42. The cylinder 108 has its basepivotally mounted to an angle 116 so that as the cylinder rod 118 movesin and out, the vacuum cups 104 are swung in an arc spanning the end ofthe jacketing conveyor 34 and the stacking station 30. Pickup andrelease of the jacketing 28 by the cups 104 is accomplished throughactivation and deactivation of the vacuum on the cups 104 furnished by avacuum pump 120. Freedom of motion for swinging of the cups 104 isenhanced by the flexible vacuum line 122 interconnecting the pump 120and the vacuum tubes 106.

Mounted on the structural bridge 112 on the opposite side from thevacuum cups 104 is a spray system, illustrated in FIG. 7 as well asFIGS. 2 and 4, capable of applying activator fluid to the adhesivecoated on the upper face of the jacketing 28 passing thereunder.Accuracy of the spray is governed by the flat spray type nozzle 124 andmust be capable of maintaining one longitudinal marginal edge of thesurface of the jacketing 28 dry while thoroughly wetting the oppositemarginal edge. Control of the amount and dispersion of the activatorfluid is accomplished through use of a constant head of activator fluidpressure on the nozzle 124. Pressure of a low range, for example, 5pounds gauge, is sufficient because of the accuracy of the nozzleorifice through which the fluid passes. Supply of activator fluid to thenozzle is providedby a line 128 from an associated constant pressuresource, not illustrated. Use of a spray nozzle 124 assures a dry marginon the edge of the jacketing 28 opposite that being sprayed to producethe tab 132, illustrated in FIG. 4, on the finished product when thejacketing is wrapped on the tubes 14.

Clearly, there are alternative apparatus for the pickup-spray station32; for example, the activator could be brushed or rolled into thejacketing 28 and the jacketing 28 could be pulled from a stationarystack by an overhead rotating friction contact or the like. Further,adhesive could be applied to the jacketing 28 instead of activator, andwhile bonding between the jacketing 28 and tube 14 is enhanced byadhesive over the entire face of the jacket, exclusive of the tab 132,it is sufficient if only the edge opposite the tab 132 and the areaimmediately adjacent the tab 132 have adhesive to produce the wrappedtube product. At least one third the periphery of the tube 14 to becovered should be bonded to the jacketing 28 with adhesive.

Overlapping the pickup-spray station 32 and the wrapping station 24 is ajacketing conveyor 34 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, and 8. Threeconveyor type belts 134 wrapped in a continuous loop around drive drum136 and idlers 138 and 140 in conjunction with three similar but shorterconveyor type belts 142 forming a continuous loop about drive drum 144and idlers 146 and 148 form the jacketing conveyor 34. All of the drums136, 138, 140, 144,146 and 148 are rotatably mounted having stub shaftsin pillow block bearings supported by the base 42. Conveying of thejacketing 28 from the stacking station 30 is aided by a plenum 150beneath the shorter belt 142 portion of the jacketing conveyor 34. Anegative pressure within the plenum 150 draws the jacketing to the belts142 upon release by the vacuum cups 104. The plenum 150 is typicallyconnected to a negative pressure source (not illustrated) by a flexiblehose 152.

Travel of jacketing 28 on the jacketing conveyor 34 is accomplished insteps with the leading end of the jacketing energizing a photo cell 154to stop the conveyor 34 when a jacketing sheet 154 has reached theposition illustrated in FIG. 4 downstream of the pickupspray station.Reactivation of the conveyor 34 occurs when the previous tube 14 hascleared the wrapping station 24 resulting in a start stop operation. Theposition illustrated by jacketing sheet 156 is a dwell position whichfurnishes sufficient time for activation of the adhesive on the sheet156, resulting from wetting by the activator fluid, to cause theadhesive to become tacky. When a subsequent sheet is advanced to thedwell position and stopped by the photo cell 154, the sheet formerly inthe dwell position is advanced into the wrapping station 24 and stopped.Splitting the jacketing conveyor into two loops consisting of the longbelts 134 and the short belts 142 results in an independent loopconsisting of short belts 142 serving the pickup and spray station.Preferably, the short belts 142 are run at a constant speed which iscoordinated with the spray of activator fluid, also an establishedconstant, to cause a constant volume of activator fluid to be depositedper unit area of adhesive coated jacketing 28 wetted. Further, greaterflexibility is available in that the speed of the longer belts 134 canbe varied independently of the speed of the shorter belts 142.

Adjustment of tension on the jacketing conveyor 34 is enhanced by theidler drums on the belts 134 and 142, respectively, which allow thebelts 134 and 142 to be tensioned without moving the drums 136, 138, 144and 148 aligned with the line equipment and having spaced relationsthereto. Energization of the longer belts 134 is provided by a motor158, illustrated in FIG. 1, connected to drive drum 136 through amagnetic clutch brake combination 160 driving a reducer 162 connected toa chain and sprocket loop 164. The above drive components are fixedlysecured to the base 42. The magnetic clutch-brake 160 allows theconveyor to be stopped with accuracy while the motor 158 continues torun.

Driving the short belts 142 is a motor-reducer acting through a chainand sprocket loop 165 on drive drum I 144 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

As pointed out above, adhesive could be applied to the sheets at thesprayv station 32 instead of activator fluid thereby also altering thejacketing conveyor 34 by eliminating the dwell portion. Also, othermeans of conveying the jackets into the wrapping machine could be used;for example, a roller hearth could be used in place of a conveyor.

I-Iaving described the apparatus illustrated for handling the flow ofthe tubes 14 and the jacketing 28, attention will now be turned to thewrapping station 24 where the tubes 14 and the jacketing 28 areassembled The wrapping station 24 is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8 andincludes a swingable belt conveyor 26 having a series of flat belts 166wrapping a drive roll 168 and an idler roll 170 in continuous loops.Both rolls 168 and 170 are journaled to a box frame structure 172,which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the base 42 as at 174. Thebase 42 also supports spaced apart vertically extending columns 176. Abracket 178 is supported by cross ties 177 (see FIG. 8) spanning thecolumns 176. Pivotally suspended from the bracket 178 is an air cylinder180. The rod end of the cylinder 180 is pivotally connected to the boxframe 172 at the end opposite the pivoted connections 174 to enable theswingable belt conveyor 26 to swing about the connections 174 as thecylinder 180 is operated. With the cylinder 180 in a position where thecylinder rod 181 is extended, FIG. 8 illustrates that the conveyor 26contacts the outer peripheral surface of the tube 14. When the cylinderrod 181 is retracted, the conveyor 26 is swung clear to allow the tube14 to enter the wrapping station 24. Proper orientation of the tube 14is maintained by retractable guide 182 which engages the slot in thetube 14 upon its entering the wrapping station 24. Upon contact of theentering tube 14 with a flag 184, a limit switch, not illustrated, isactivated causing an air cylinder 186 to which the retractable guide 182is affixed to retract the guide 182 beneath the bed 188 of the wrappingstation 24. At the same time, cylinder 180 is extended to allow theswingable conveyor 26 to engage the tube 14 which is free to roll underthe frictional contact between it and the moving belts 186. The bed 188provides rigid support for both the jacketing conveyor belts 134 passingthereover and the jacketing 28 on the belts 134. Indirectly, the bed 188also provides support for the tube 14 as it rolls over the jacketing 28.With the tube 14 supported as described above, pressure can be exertedon the tube 14 by the swingable conveyor 26. Application of pressure asthe tube 14 is rolled prevents slippage between the tube and conveyor 26to assure that the alignment of the edge of the jacketing 28 with theslot in the tube 14 is maintained. Further assurance that the tube 14 isrolled over the entire surface of the jacketing 28 is provided bypreventing slippage between the tube 14 and conveyor 26. Since the uppersurface of the jacketing 28 is tacky upon entering the wrapping station24, the jacketing 28 is picked up by the tube 14 as it rolls. After ahalf revolution of the tube 14, the jacketing 28 on the tube 14 isengaged by the swingable conveyor 26 to complete a full revolution ofthe tube 14 thereby completing the wrapping process. The tubes 14 aredischarged in sequence with each subsequent tube 14 pushing the priortube 14 from the end of the swingable conveyor 26 to be removed ordropped from the bed 188 to a collector. Movement of the swingableconveyor belts 166 is provided by a motor-reducer 190 supported by thecolumns 176 operating through a chain and sprocket loop 192 to drive thedrive roll 168.

Other means of energization are available in place of a motor-reducer190 and cylinders 180 and 186 such as a hydraulic motor and rack andpinion drive, respectively.

The method of operation of the above apparatus is to coordinate thesimultaneous flow of the tubes 14 with the flow of the jacketing 28 tobring them together for assembly in the wrapping station 24. Assumingthe line is in continuous operation, a sheet of jacketing 28 will bepositioned at the dwell portion of the jacketing conveyor 34 and theinclined ramp 12 will have the tubes 14 stored thereon. Upon apredetermined signal, a tube 14 is released from the inclined ramp 12and deposited in the trough 16 and 48 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Immediately,the tube 14 is advanced to the entry of the slitter station by thecontinuously rotating forwarding wheel 18 where the leading edge of thetube 14 abuts the stationary pressure belt 52 of the slitter station 20.The pressure belts 52 and 84 of the slitter and transfer stations 20 and22 are activated in unison by a top limit switch, not illustrated, whichis contacted by the swingable conveyor 26 when the conveyor 26 reachesits top position to provide clearance for a tube 14 to advancetherebeneath. Advancement of the jacketing 28 from the dwell position bythe jacketing conveyor 34 requires that the area into which the sheet isto be advanced be clear as indicated by the passing of a tube 14 overthe prior sheet of jacketing 28 by contacting an end limit switch, notillustrated, at the discharge of the wrapping station 24. Activation ofthe jacketing conveyor 34 is accomplished by the end limit switch toassure that the receiving area is clear for the jacketing 28 beingadvanced.

Energization of the jacketing conveyor 34 is the last step in a sequenceof motions which precede it to advance the jacketing 28 to the dwellposition. Thus, each time the end limit switch is contacted by a tube 14each step in the sequence is activated. Viewing the steps starting withstacking station 30 in the order in which they occur, FIGS. 2 and 4illustrate the vacuum cups 104 positioned over the jacketing conveyor 34from which position they swing over the stack of jacketing 28 on thestacking station 30. With the vacuum cups 104 activated, the stackingstation 30 is elevated to meet the cups 104 with the top sheet ofjacketing 28 being engaged by the cups 104 which have a vacuum drawnthereon. Next, the vacuum cups 104 are positioned over the jacketingconveyor 34 while the stacking station 30 is lowered, and the cups 104are deactivated to release the sheet of jacketing 28 whose leading endfalls onto the jacketing conveyor 34. Sufficient contact between theleading end of the jacketing 28 to carry the remainder of the sheet ofjacketing 28 onto the conveyor 34, is supplied by the plenum which has anegative pressure therein to draw the sheet of jacketing down againstthe jacketing conveyor 34. As the jacketing 28 is advanced by thejacketing conveyor 34, it passes the nozzle 124 of the pickup-spraystation 32. A patterned flow from the nozzle sprays activator fluid onthe upper face of the jacketing 28 to activate the adhesive thereon overthe marginal edge of sheet 156 of FIG. 4 opposite the tab 132. As analternative, the entire face with the exception of the tab 132 can besprayed or the above marginal edge and one adjacent the tab 132 can besprayed. The marginal edge is maintained free of activator by theaccuracy of thenozzle to create a non tacky tab 132 on the jacketingsheet 156 which overlaps the slot in the tube 14 when the jacketing 28is wrapped around it. From the pickupspray station 32, the jacketing 28is advanced to the dwell portion of the jacketing conveyor 34 where theleading edge of the jacketing sheet 156 energizes the photo cell 154stopping the jacketing conveyor 34 and deactivating the spray nozzle124. A sequence of steps has now resulted in a return to the jacketing28 positioned in the dwell portion of the jacketing conveyor 34. Withthe top limit switch contacted by the swingable conveyor 26 of thewrapping station 24, the switch activates the slitter and transferstations 20 and 22 to advance the tube 14 being held against the entryof the slitter station 20 on into the wrapping station 24. As the tube14 is advanced through the slitter station 20 the saw 50 cuts a slotthrough bottom wall of the tube 14 and partially through thediametrically opposed inner wall. The tube is advanced through the saw50 and the transfer station 22 by pressure belts 52 and 84,respectively, with the slot being engaged by a guide 53 subsequent tothe saw 50, until being released from the transfer station 22. As thetube 14 is advanced to the wrapping station 24, the sheet 156 ofjacketing 28 is advanced from the dwell portion of the jacketing conveyor 34. Stoppage of the jacketing conveyor 34 by a subsequent sheet156 of jacketing entering the dwell portion thereof stops and aligns thesheet 156 of jacketing 28 which has entered the wrapping station 24 sothat the ends of the sheet 156 and the ends of the tube 14 are adjacenteach other. Location of the tube 14 advancing into the wrapping station24 is provided by contacting the flag 184. The tube 14 must advance totrip the flag 184 activating the flat limit switch (not shown) to causethe lowering of both the swingable belt conveyor 26 and retractableguide 182. The retractable guide 182 maintains the circumferentialorientation of the tube 14 as it leaves the guide 53 which is within thetransfer station 22 and aids in guiding the alignment of the jacketing28. Retraction of the guide 182, therefore, leaves the tube free to rollunder the contact of the moving belts 166 of the swingable conveyor 26.With both tube 14 and jacketing 28 having been aligned within thewrapping station 24, rolling of the tube 14 over the tacky surface ofthe jacketing 28 results in the jacketing 28 being wrapped about thetube 14 with the longitudinal edge of the jacketing 28 adjacent the tube14 slot mating with the edge of the slot. The operation ends with thetubes 14 wrapped with jacketing 28 being discharged to the bed 188 ofthe wrapping station 24 and the swingable conveyor 26 andretractableguide 182 being returned to their raised positions upon thedischarged tube contacting the end limit switch.

While the above method has been described with respect to the preferredembodiment it is to be understood that the method of indexing the tubesand sheet material and the steps of aligning and wrapping the tubescould be performed other than on the present apparatus and even manuallywith the aid of guiding means.

The precut size of the jacketing 28 and the width of the tab 132 leftunactivated determine the overlap of jacketing to provide a readilyactivated adhesive tab 132 for sealing the slot of the finished product."no excess is provided and the entire surface of the jacketing is wettedthen the tube is covered without a tab 132 leaving the slot exposedunless an independent seal is later applied. The above apparatus isapplicable to either concept.

Advantages of the above apparatus and method include a faster rate ofproduction of wrapped tubes over previous manual wrapping with thewrapping process capable of matching the rate of production of tubes toeliminate a production bottle neck. The elimination of manual laborresults in a reduction in labor cost as well as a savings in work arearequired.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleand mode of operation of the machine have been explained and what isconsidered to represent its best embodiment has been illustrated anddescribed. It should, however, be understood that the invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically illustrated and describedwithout departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

l. A method of jacketing cylindrical bodies comprising the steps of:

advancing a tubular object from a supply source to a slitting station;advancing the tubular object in a direction parallel to its longitudinalaxis through the slitting station while maintaining the tubular objectin a fixed circumferential orientation; I

slitting a wall of the tubular object parallel to the longitudinal axisthereof while advancing the tubular object through the slitting stationto form a longitudinal slot in the tubular object;

advancing the tubular object to a jacket application station whilemaintaining the tubular object in the fixed circumferential orientationby inserting guide means in the longitudinal slot;

advancing an adhesively coated jacketing material to the jacketingstation;

bringing a longitudinal edge portion of the jacketing material intocontact with the tubular object adjacent the longitudinal slot and inparallel alignment with the longitudinal slot; and

rotating the tubular object about its longitudinal axis after removingthe guide means from the longitudinal slot to wrap the jacketingmaterial about the tubular object.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive on the jacketingmaterial is initially dormant and including applying an activator fluidto the adhesive prior to bringing the jacketing material into contactwith the tubular object.

3. A method according to claim 2 including maintaining a secondlongitudinal marginal edge portion of the jacketing material, that isopposite the edge portion adjacent the longitudinal slot, free of theactivator fluid to keep the adhesive on the second longitudinal marginaledge portion dormant.

4. A method according to claim 3 including maintaining the sheet ofjacketing material in a dwell position after the application of theactivator fluid and prior to contacting the tubular body with thejacketing material to enable the adhesive to become tacky.

1. A method of jacketing cylindrical bodies comprising the steps of:advancing a tubular object from a supply source to a slitting station;advancing the tubular object in a direction parallel to its longitudinalaxis through the slitting station while maintaining the tubular objectin a fixed circumferential orientation; slitting a wall of the tubularobject parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof while advancing thetubular object through the slitting station to form a longitudinal slotin the tubular object; advancing the tubular object to a jacketapplication station while maintaining the tubular object in the fixedcircumferential orientation by inserting guide means in the longitudinalslot; advancing an adhesively coated jacketing material to the jacketingstation; bringing a longitudinal edge portion of the jacketing materialinto contact with the tubular object adjacent the longitudinal slot andin paRallel alignment with the longitudinal slot; and rotating thetubular object about its longitudinal axis after removing the guidemeans from the longitudinal slot to wrap the jacketing material aboutthe tubular object.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein theadhesive on the jacketing material is initially dormant and includingapplying an activator fluid to the adhesive prior to bringing thejacketing material into contact with the tubular object.
 3. A methodaccording to claim 2 including maintaining a second longitudinalmarginal edge portion of the jacketing material, that is opposite theedge portion adjacent the longitudinal slot, free of the activator fluidto keep the adhesive on the second longitudinal marginal edge portiondormant.
 4. A method according to claim 3 including maintaining thesheet of jacketing material in a dwell position after the application ofthe activator fluid and prior to contacting the tubular body with thejacketing material to enable the adhesive to become tacky.